Combined cotton chopper and cultivator.



116.7%,126. PATENTBD MAR. 17,1903.

M. A. BEARD.

COMBINED COTTON CHOPPER AND CULTIVATOR. Arrmouron FILED APR. 9, 1902. no MODEL. 2 SHEETSESHEBT 1 I b/mzimez 04.2fm 4/- a' o wig/WW PATENTED MAR.17, 1903.

M. AgBgARDI COMBINED COTTON CHOPPER AND GULTIVATOR.

, APPLIOATIOK FILED APR.'9, 1902 30 MODEL.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Eva/7Z0? ae? 12 Beard Wi /wk UNITE TATES PATENT UFFICE.

MICHAEL A. BEARD, or SPRINGHILL, LOUISIANA.

COMBINED COTTON CHOPPER AND CULTIVATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 723,126, dated March 17, 1 903.

' 1 Application filed April 9, 1902- Serial No. 101,983. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

l 3e'it known that I, MICHAEL A. BEARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at- Springhill, parish of Webstenand State of Louisiana,

have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in. a O'c'nnbinedv .I Cotton-Chopper and Oultivatolgof which 'tlie follwing is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in combined cotton choppers and cultivators, and has for its object to provide a machine of this description by which the rows of cotton may be chopped into blocks and cultivated at the same time.

A further object of my invention is to so construct the machine that it will consist of comparatively few parts and be very durable in construction, efficient in action, and positive in working, and all of the operating parts ofthe machine may be thrown out of action when used for traveling over the road or in changing from one row to another.

With these ends in view this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, the construction and operation will now be described in detail, referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,

in which Figure 1 represents a vertical longitudinal sectionof a machine; Fig. 2, a plan view; Fig.

Fig. 6, a perspective view of the chopping. hoe.

A represents the main frame of the machine, whichis supported upon the axle B,

and upon each end of the axle are secured rigidly the tractionwheels O.

D is a movable frame which lies between the side bars of the main frame and is supplied with side flanges adapted to normally rest upon the side bars of the main frame and i be supported thereby. To thismovable frame are secured all the operating parts of the machine. To this movable frame D and extending laterally across the same is a channel or guideway E, in which rests a bar F, which bar is held within the channel so as to allow the same to slide back and forth laterally of the machine. In each end of the bar are journaled small friction-rollers F, andto the inner face or spokes of the wheels 0 are secured the blocks G, which have inclined surfaces formed thereon and are arranged-in such a position on the wheels as to come in contact with the rollers F of the bar F and give to said bar a lateral sliding motion. The blocks G on one wheel are staggered relative to the blocks upon the opposite wheel, so that the bar F is first caused to slide in one direction and then in the other alternately. In the middle of the bar F is formed a slot F in which are journaled two small rollers F H is a vertical bar journaled at H to lugs extending downward from the movable frame D. The upper end of the bar H extends upward through the slot F of the bar F and in between the two small rollers F Thus when the bar F is reciprocated the rollers F? will come in contact with the barH and cause said bar to oscillate to rock upon the pivot H. To the lower end of the bar H is secured the cotton-chopper hoe I. This hoe is so secured to the bar H that the same may be adjustable vertically to a certain limit. The choppinghoe I is formed triangular in shape, and its sides or beveled edges are sharpened, so that they strike the stalks'of the cotton, which will exert a shredding action upon the same, so as to cut the same with a clean cut.

The number of blocks G to be placed upon the wheel will be determined by the size of the wheels and also the number of blocks to be formed in the rows of cotton. These blocks may be made adjustable radially of the spokes of the wheel, if so desired. Forward of the chopping-hoe and also secured to the movable frame D and depending therefrom are the scrapers J, each of which being secured to uprights J, which are pivoted to- ;gether to a lug dependingfrom the movable frame D at the point J The upper ends of the uprights J are bent at right angles, so as to lie horizontally, and are slotted and lie one above the other. A bolt J passes downward through the slots and also through the movable frame D, and thus holds the uprights J in position. When it; is desired to adjust the scrapers J' so as to bring them closer together or farther apart, the nut J is loosened, and then the uprights J may rock upon the pivot .1 adjust the scrapers, so as to bring them the desired distance apart, and then by again tightening the nut J they will be held in position.

At the rear of the movable frame and behind the cotton-choppinghoe is a bar K, which extends across the machine and is secured at each end in lugs dependingfrom the movable frame D. To this transverse bar K are secured the two clevises L, and to each of these clevises is secured the forward end of the plow-beams M. These plow-beams extend rearward at an opposite angle to one another, so that the plowshares M secured thereto will straddle the row of cotton and operate upon each side of the same. Each plow-beam has a handle M secured thereto, and theoperator of'the machine walks behind, holding these handles, and thus regulating the depth of the cut. Pivoted to each of the plowbeams at the point N are fenders O, which rest against the ground by gravity and lie inside of the plowshares M. These fenders also straddle the row of cotton and prevent the dirt thrown upward by the plowshares from covering the cotton. Each of the plowbeams has secured thereto the loops P, and

depending from the main frame A of the machine are hooks P, and when it is desired not to use the plow, such as when traveling upon the road or changing from one row to another, the plow-beams are raised up and the loops P are hooked upon the hooks P.

For the purpose of throwing the choppinghoe out of action and raising the scrapers out of the ground when the machine is traveling upon a road or changing from one row to another I provide a standard Q, which arises from the main frame A of the machine upon each side, and journaled in the upper end of this standard and extending entirely across the machine is a rod R, which has secured to it in the center the rock-bar S.

T is a pyramidal framework composed of rods secured to each corner of the movable frame D and extending upward and meeting at a common point, at which, point is hooked or secured in any manner the forward end of the rock-bar S. To the rearend of the rockbar S is pivoted a downwardly-depending toothed bar U.

D is the rear cross-bar of the movable frame D, and when the operator desires to throw the operating parts of the machine out of action the bar U is pulled downward, which will raise the forward end of the rocking lever S, and thus raise the movable frame D bodily above the main frame A. This will bring the reciprocating bar F above the line of travel of the blocks G,-so that said bar will not be acted upon, and will also raise the scrapers J from out of the ground and will still further raise the plows M. The parts may be held in this raised position. by hooking the teeth of the toothed bar U underneath the cross-bar D of the frame D.

When preparing the land for the cotton,this machine may be used for ordinary plowing by removing the chopping mechanism and the forward scrapers, and in place of the plows M substitute plows of ordinary construction.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction here shown,as slight modifications could be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim as new and useful is- 1. In combination witha machine of the character described, a main frame, a main axle supporting the main frame, tractionwheels secured rigidly to each end of said axle,

a movableframe supported by the main frame, I

a guide or channel formed transversely of the movable frame, a bar arranged within said guide or channel,beveled blocks secured to the inside of the traction-wheels, the blocks upon one wheel staggered relative to the blocks upon the other wheel, said blocks adapted to come in contact successively with the ends of the bar so as to reciprocate the same, a cottonchopping hoe pivoted to the movable frame underneath the reciprocating bar, a shank extending upward from the chopping-hoe and connected with the reciprocating bar, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In combination with a machine of the character described, an axle, a traction-wheel secured upon each end of said axle, a main frame supported by the axle, a movable frame supported by the main frame, means for raising and lowering the movable frame relative to the main frame, means for holding the movable frame in its raised position, a transverse guide or channel formed with the movable frame, a transverse bar arranged within the guide or channel, rollers journaled in each end of said bar, beveled blocks secured upon the inner face of the tractionwheels, the blocks upon one wheel staggered relative to the blocks upon the other, the rollers upon the end of the reciprocating bar lying normally within the path of travel of said blocks so that the bar will be reciprocated thereby, a vertical bar pivoted to the lugs depending from the movable frame, the transverse reciprocating bar provided with a slot, the upper end of the vertical bar protruding through said slot, a cotton-chopping hoe adjustably secured to the lower end of the vertical bar, as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a machine of the character described, an axle,a traction-wheelsecured upon each end of said axle, a main frame supported by said axle,a movable frame supported by said main frame, means for raising and lowering said movable frame vertically relative to the main frame, means for holding the movable frame in the raised position, a transverse channel or guide carried by the movable frame,arecipro cating bar adapted to slide within saidchannel or guide, rollers jonrnaled in each end of said bar, beveled blocks secured to the inner face ofeach of the wheels,said blocks arranged at regular intervals, and the blocks upon one wheel staggered relative to the blocks upon the other, the rollers upon the ends of the reciprocating bar lying normally within the pathof travel of said blocks, the reciprocating bar provided with a vertical slot in the middle thereof, rollers journaled within said slot, a Vertical bar pivoted midway of its length to the movable frame at a point below the reciprocating bar, the upper end of the vertical bar extending through the slot in the MIOHAEL A. BEARD.

Witnesses:

,AMAZIAH SMITH,

G. W. CAMP. 

